Tabulating machine



Feb. 13, 1940.

F. C. BLOMFIELD ET AL TABULATING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1938 3 sheetssheet 2 I N VENT 0R5 BZom/ y hzts ATTORNEYS F. c. BLOMFIELD ET AL 89,935

Feb. 13, 1940.

TABULATING' MACHINE Filed May 24, 1938 3 She ets -Sheet 3 INVENIORSWcx/erzlca 'clz/ BY wsHc/oansozo W Z/ml'rA ORNEYS Patented Feb. 13, 1940UNETD YSTATES TABUI ATING MACHINE Frederick o. Blomfield, Goldwater, andMagnus H. Johanson, Rochester, 'N. Y.; said Johanson assignorv to saidBlomfield U Application ay 24, 1938, Serial No. 209,800 r 13 Claims.(01. 281-1) The present invention relates to a tabulating machine andmore particularly to-one for suc: cessively presenting to View differentportions .of separate sheets to facilitate the applicationof 5 datathereto or consideration of previously entered items thereon.

'One'object of theinventionis to provide-an improved machine of theclassdescribed which embodies a simplified construction and which isconvenient to operate, efiicient in service, and comparativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of this classahovel construction embodying stationary supporting means adapted toreceive a plurality of 'sheets or forms, to: gether with means forsimultaneously advancing the sheets thereon and forsuccessivelyjpresenting to view difierent predetermined or corre+sponding portions of the sheets in juxtaposition to permit the operatorto readily compare or'summarize data applied thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine ofthe class described having sheet supporting surfaces each adapted toreceive one of a plurality of sheets to be moved relative to saidsurfaces to successively position different predetermined portions ofthe sheets thereon, and the surfaces being of a charactertopermit datato be readily Written on said portions when in overlying engagementwith'said surfaces. j

A further objectoi the invention isto provide in a machine of .the classdescribed/improved. means for simultaneously feeding a plurality ofsheets, step by step, to. presentto view predetermined portions thereofcontaining items of account or othergdata; in juxtaposition one relativeto another and substantially in a plane. I

.To these and other ends the invention resides 0 in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully de-,

scribed, the novel features being pointed outin the claims at the end ofthe specification.

In. the drawings a A I Fig. 1 is afront elevation of a machineembodyingthe invention; v

2 is a top plan View of the same;

Fig.3 is a view similarto Fig. 2 with the cover Y of the machine swungto vertical position and 50* with the sheet supporting table removed;

' "Fig. 4 is a part sectional elevation with the carriage for moving thesheets shown at its. up-

perrnost position; l i i l Fig. 5 is a'sectional elevation on the line 55 551 of' 'Fig. 3 drawn to an enlarged "scaleandillus carriage inelevated position;

v the present machine.

machineincluding means forsimultaneously adtrating a brake for thedriving shaft of the mechanism for raising and lowering the carriagefor, efiecting a step by step movement of the data bearing sheets;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one end of the sheet sup porting table; 5 a v la Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 1-1 of Fig. 2with the sheetf positioning Fig. 8 is a somewhat similar view with thecarriage shown in partially lowered position;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation through one of the sheetengaging and advancing members of the carriage drawn to an enlargedscale and showing a spring for gripping the sheet moved to releaseposition by a cam rod; Q T

Fig. 10 is a detailed view of the cam rod shown in sectionin Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a View illustrating by way of exam- 20 ple a portion of oneof a number of different sheets or forms to be usedin connection withThe same reference numeralsthroughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

i The present invention relates toa machineon which to assemble aplurality of sheets with corresponding portions thereof injuxtaposition, the

vancing the sheets to successively positi'onand present said portions toview'fora purpose described hereinafter. The sheet or form [shown by wayof example in'Fig, 11 constitutes merely. one of a number of di-fierentsheets orlforms adapted to be handled by the" present machine. 35

The sheet illustrated preferably includesa plureality of columns or datareceiving portions desj ignated generally by the reference numerals I to6, inclusive, and upon which may beentered data of any desired nature,under appropriate 4 headings and which may relate, for example, to

expense accounts, sales. records, cost sheets, pay checks-or vouchers,acc ountsmeceivable and other financial or statistical data. on thesheetil1us-' trated, certain of the columns eachcontains differentaccount numbers with spacingsfor difierj ent individual amounts and withcorresponding item numbers opposite said spacings, while other columnsmay include headings for debitjand creditaccounts or for'any' otherentries desired.

It will be understood that the present machine is designed toaccommodates number .ofsuch sheets, having a-supportingsurfacecorrespond' ing to each, the surfaces'preferably. being ist'ationary and disposed one adjacent another and 5 PATENT oFFicEcorresponding in width substantially to the width of the columns of thesheets, in order that the corresponding columns of the different sheetsmay be displayed one adjacent another to facilitate summarizing orcomparison of the data thereon, or the transposing of the same tojournals or ledgers, as desired.

Moreover, the individual sheet supporting surfaces of the machine are ofsuch a nature as to permit data to be written in the columns of thedifferent sheets while overlying said surfaces, when it is desired touse the machine for this purpose, in addition to that of advancing thesheets simultaneously and step by step to position the correspondingcolumns of the different sheets in juxtaposition one relative toanother.

Referring to the drawings, l designates generally a substantiallyrectangular casing for the sheet feeding mechanism, the casing beingpreferably supported by suitable legs II, as shown in Fig. 1. The casingis'provided at its upper end with suitable supporting means I2 uponwhich to position the data bearing sheets, one of which is indicated atI3, the supporting means being preferably inthe form ofv a table havingflanged edge portions l4 extending downwardly on the side walls of thecasing, as shown in Fig. 4. The

7 table is provided with a series of slots I5 having therebetweensubstantially flat stationary supporting surfaces or-members I6 for thesheets, ofa width corresponding substantially to that of the columns ofthe sheets.

-Within the casing Ill beneaththe table I2 is providedsuitable means'forsimultaneously feeding the sheets I3'step by step on the stationarysupporting members It, said means preferably being in the form of acarriage designated generally by the reference numeral I1. The carriageis of rectangular construction and-is guided in its up and 'downmovements within the casing by the front and rear Vertically extendingguide members I8 and I9, respectively, which are suitably secured on theinner faces of the walls of the casing I0, Fig. 3.

The carriage includes a series of transversely extending members. 20which are spaced apart distances substantially. equal to the distancesbetween the slots of the table l2 and which are preferably alined withthe slots, as shown in Fig. 7, said members having their ends suitablyconnectedv with the front and rear walls of the carriage,

Each of the members is provided with a series of spaced lugs 2| forreceiving theleading edge I30. of one of the data bearing sheets I3-whereby each sheet may be properly positioned within the machine inadvance of the feeding operations. Suitable means, such, for example, asthe springs 22 are provided for cooperation with the transverse members20 of the carriage to retain the sheets thereon and to insure move mentof the same over the surfaces of the supporting members It duringmovement of the carriage downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 7,the springs being suitably connected at their lower ends with themembers 20. a

After completing the sheet advancing or feedingoperations by moving thecarriage to its lowermost position, the springs 22, corresponding toeach of the transverse members 2ll, can= be moved to the position shownin Fig. 9 to free the sheets for withdrawal from the machine.

' Means for moving the springs to release the sheet whereby to free itfor withdrawal from the machine.

Any suitable means may be provided for moving the carriage such, forexample, as the racks 28 and 29 on the end walls thereof, the shafts28a. and 29 having pinions 28b and 291) meshing, respectively, with theracks 28 and 29, the

shaft33 having a gear 3| meshing with and driven by a gear'32 on thedriving shaft 28a and also having a gear 33 meshing with a similar gear34 on the shaft 29a and by which the latter is driven. The shafts 28a,29a, and are supported each by a plurality of bearings 34 suitablyconnected to the walls of the casing, Fig. 3.

The driving shaft 28a is extended through the front wall'of thecasinginto a housing 35 detachably secured on said wall and provided with aremovable cover 36. A crank 31 is provided on the outer end of the driveshaft 28a for operating the same. Fixed on the shaft 28a within thehousing 35 is a flanged brake wheel 38, associated with which is a yoke39 having a semi-circular brake member 40 yieldingly held in engagementwith the brake wheel by means of the springs 4| on bolts 42 which areextended through the ends of the yoke and the springs into the'walls ofthe housing 35, Fig. 5.

By turning the crank 31 to operate the shaft 28a and the shafts 30 and29a connected therewith the carriage I! may be moved downwardly on theguides I8 and I9 from the elevated position shown in Fig. 7 to thelowered position shown in Fig. 8 whereby to simultaneously advance thesheets I3 each a distance equal to the width of one of the six .columnsof the sheet, designated by the reference numerals I to 6, inclusive, inFig. 11. It will be understood that the carriage may be lowered by astep by step movement whereby to successively position the sheetadvancing operations that the sheets may be released by moving thehandles 21 of the cam rods 23 each to a dotted line positioncorresponding to that indicated in the upper left hand corner of Fig. 1whereby to move the springs 22 to free the sheets. Upon release of thesheets in this manner they can, by gripping the portions I3b of thesheets with the fingers be readily withdrawn from the machine. a

The casing II] is provided with a top 43 hinged atM and adapted to beswung from the normal horizontal service position shown in Fig. 2 to thesubstantially vertical position shown in Fig. 3, at which it will bearrested by suitable stops 45a on the rear wall of the casing. The top43 has an opening of a size slightly larger than the portion'of thetable I2 onwhich the data bearing sheets I3 are disposed inorder thatthe sheets v the sheets.

when the .top; is in lowviewed in Figs. 1, and 2, with downwardly and;inwardly turned portions 45 and 46 for receiving the head il of aT-square or-similar member 48 for movement over the data bearing sheetsto facilitate reading of the characters ofthe hori-:'

zontal lines-of the sheets. The free end of the T-square is providedwith adownwardly turned portion 49 which engages the downwardly turnedportion 5% and the top and which serves to both guide the T-square andto prevent longitudinal movement of the same in one direction.

The top is provided with a plurality of wires out interfering with theproper advancement "of The portion of the T-square over lying thedatabearing sheets is slightly ofiset in an upward direction, as shown inFig. 3, to permit it to. pass freely over the Wires! 50 when ad" justingthe T-square between its limits of movement on the top.

The .data bearing sheet-e13 can-readily be posi tioned upon thesupporting members l6 merely by inserting each sheet downwardlythrough'one may be applied to the sheets by writing .or mark ing itthereon in any or all of the columns as desired, provided the sheetshave not previously been supplied with the desired data. Then by.

turning the crank 31 the sheets will be simultaneously advanced toposition column 5 of each in overlying relation with respect to one ofthe supporting members after which the necesdata can be entered bywriting it in said 001- umns, it being understood that the. surfaces ofthe stationary supporting members It. are pref; erab y made flat andsmooth, whereby to afford a suitable background for the. sheets which.will permit the characters to be readily appliedfreely .in asatisfactory manner. r While the construction of the sheet supporting'flmeans movable in a rectilinear manner for enmeans is such. as to permitdata to be supplied to.

the sheets when in overlying relation relative to said-supportingmembers, it will be understood that all items or data of any kind to beapplied I to the sheets may be entered thereon before positioningthesheets within. the machine, in case it:

desired'to make use of the machine only as a means for. successivelydisplaying the corresponding columns of the sheets in juxtaposition inor der to more readily observe, check, or summarize the data thereon.

; particularly advantageous in that it serves to greatly reduce the timeheretofore consumed in the manual handling of a considerable number ofrecord bearing sheets, preparatory to and during. considerati on ortabulation of the data there on. It also affords convenience in thepresentation of the sheets for consideration by the operaportions of thesheets in juxtaposition tive to another on said surfaces;

tor as well as tends to insure accuracy in the f calculationsorobservations to be made; and fa cilitates the application'oi data to thesheets in cases where it may be desired to enter various items thereonafter the sheets have been posi tioned within the machine.

While one embodiment of theinvention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventiveidea may be carried out in a numberof Thisapplication is therefore not to be limited to the precise detailsdescribed, but is l intended to cover all variations and modificationsways.

thereof falling within the spiritof the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

We c1aim:.. l 1. In a machine of the class described, means forming aseries of spaced .adjacently disposed position different predeterminedportions, of the sheets in juxtaposition one relative to another onsimultaneously move the sheets, said means being operable to effect astep by step-movement thereof to successively position difierentpredetermined portions of each sheet on the supporting mem for movingsaid parts in a rectilinear manner to l her corresponding thereto .so asto present said d fiferent predetermined portions of the sheets to viewin juxtaposition one relative to another.

3. In a machine of the class described, means forming a series of spacedadjacent-1y disposed surfaces for supporting data bearing sheets, acarriage mounted adjacent said surfaces, means on the carriage forengaging and simultaneously moving the sheets upon movement of. thecarriage, and means for efiecting a step by step movement of thecarriage in a rectilinear manner to successively position differentpredetermined one rela- 4. In a machine of the class described, a tablehaving a series of slots withsubstantially flat surfaces therebetweeneach adapted to support a 1 sheet withopposite portions of the sheetdepending therefrom through two of the slots, and

gagingand simultaneously moving the sheets,

said means being operable to effect a step by;

step movement thereof tosuccessively position different predeterminedportions of the sheets in iuxtaposition one relative to another :on saidsur- 5. A table having a plurality of stationary sup- ,portingmemberseach for a sheet-adapted to be hers, means for effecting a step bystepmovement of said means to successively position dif fercnt predeterminedportions of the sheets in' juxtaposition one relativeto another on thesupl o disposed thereon with opposite portions of the porting members,and means for effecting release of one of the parts of each of saiddevices to release the sheet held thereby.

6. A framehaving a plurality of spaced supporting members each for asheet adapted to be disposed thereon with opposite portions of thesheets depending therefrom, relatively movable cooperating parts forreceiving one of the depending portions of each of the sheets, means foroperating said parts in a rectilinear manner to simultaneously advancethe sheets on said members, said means being operable to efiect a stepby step movement of said parts to successively position differentpredetermined portions of each sheet on the supporting membercorresponding thereto so as to present said difierent predeterminedportions of the sheets to View in juxtaposition one relative to another,and separate independent'members for effecting relative movement betweenthe cooperating receiving parts foreach sheet to release the sheet.

7.. A frame having a plurality of spaced adjacently dis'posedsupportingmembers each for a'sheett adapted to have one end portion placed thereonwith the opposite end portion depending therefrom, a carriage movablebeneath the frame, partsflon the carriage for engaging the firstmentioned end portion of each of the sheets, and means for operating thecarriage to simultaneously move said parts to move the sheets on saidsupporting members, said means being operable to efiect a step by stepmovement of the carriage to successively advance the sheets to positiondifierent predetermined portions of each on the supporting membercorresponding thereto so as tdpresent said different predeterminedportions of the sheets to view in juxtaposition relative to another.

'8. A table comprising a plurality of spaced supporting members each fora sheet adapted to be positioned thereon with opposite portions of thesheet depending therefrom, a carriage movable beneaththe table andhaving a part corresponding to each of the supporting members,

-said 'parts'each' being adapted to receive one depending portion ofeach sheet, resilient means for cooperation with each of said parts tohold the last mentioned portion of the sheet thereon, and means foreffecting a step by step movement of the carriage to move the sheets onsaid' supporting members and to successively present differentpredetermined portions thereof to view in juxtaposition one relativetoanother.

9. A table comprising a plurality of spaced supporting members each fora sheet adapted to be positioned thereon with opposite portions of thesheet depending therefrom, a carriage movable beneath the table andhaving a part corresponding to each of said supporting members, saidparts each being adapted to receive one depending portion of each sheet,one or more springs associated with each of said parts. for engaging theportion of the sheet disposed thereon, means for effecting a step bystep movement of the carriage'to move the sheets on said supportingmembers and to successively present different predetermined portions ofthe sheetsto view in juxtaposition one relative to another,

and means corresponding to eachof said parts for moving the springsassociated therewith" to release the sheet advanced thereby forwithdrawal from the machine.

10. A table comprising a plurality of spaced supporting members each fora sheet adapted to be positioned thereon with opposite portions of thesheet depending therefrom, a carriage movable beneath the table andhaving a part corresponding to each of the supporting members,said'parts each being adapted to receive one depending portion of eachsheet and having abutments' for receiving'the free edges of said por-'tions to position the sheets in a predetermined relation one relative toanother,'one or more springs on each of said parts for engaging theportion of the sheet disposed thereon, means for effecting a step bystep movement of the carriage to move the sheets on said supportingmembers to present diiferent predetermined portions thereof to view injuxtaposition one relative to another, and a cam element correspondingto each of said parts for moving the springs thereon to release thedepending portion of the sheet held thereby. 1

11. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a series ofspaced substantially parallel sheet supporting members, a carriagemovable transversely of said sheet supporting members, individual sheetpositioning elements on the carriage each corresponding to one of saidsheet supporting members, each of said elements including means forengaging a portion of the sheet disposed on the supporting membercorresponding thereto, and means for moving the carriage tosimultaneously move said sheet positioning elements to move the sheetson said supporting members.

12. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a series ofspaced substantially parallel sheet supporting members, a carriagemovable transversely of said sheet supporting members, individual sheetpositioning elements on the carriage. each corresponding to one of saidsheet supporting members, each of said elements including relativelymovable parts for engaging a portion of the sheet disposed on thesupporting member corresponding thereto, means for operating thecarriage to simultaneously move said sheet positioning elements to movethe sheets on said supporting members, and a device associated with eachof said sheet positioning elements for moving one of the parts thereofto release the sheet held thereby.

13. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table surfacehaving a plurality ,of parallel slots therein, said slots being arrangedwhole from one position to the other with respect to the table surfaceand maintaining the sheets unrolled between their ends.

FREDERICK C. BLOMFIE MAGNUS H. JOHANSON.

